Tamago-En

Tamago-En
23 Serangoon Central
#02-K5 NEX

238 Thomson Road
#01-89 Novena Square

4 Tampines Central 5
#B1-10 Tampines Mall

1 Woodlands Square
#B1-19 Causeway Point

5 Changi Business Park Central 1
#01-35 Changi City Point

1 Harbourfront Walk
#B2-27 VivoCity

http://www.tamago-en.com/

Tamago Kake Gohan (SGD $8.80)

The Freshest Eggs From Okinawa With Fuwa

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $21 per person.


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I love eggs. It's among my favourite food of all time, and I especially love it when speciality restaurants focusing on eggs are around, like the now-defunct Hatched (Restaurant), one of my favourite brunch eating places in the early 2010s because of their variety of Western egg-focused dishes.

So I was really excited when Tamago-En opened in June 2019. Focusing on Japanese, American, and British style dishes mostly incorporating eggs, they opened to long queues which still more or less persist today across their 3 outlets, despite the recent COVID-19 circuit breaker measures in Singapore. I'm glad they seem to be doing relatively well to ride out the huge hit on F&B in Singapore.

Ambience at Tamago-En is modern casual. The brightly lit, open space has partitions to carve up the area, allowing for cushioned semi-private booths and regular dining seats. The simple wooden furnishings are contrasted by shades of orange and white (meant to resemble the colours of fresh eggs), while egg-shaped ceiling features complete the look overhead.

Service at Tamago-En is professional and attentive. Staff accord each guest personalised attention, from greeting to taking orders. They display average product knowledge, able to briefly describe dishes, but could be more proactive with recommendations or words of caution. Orders are fulfilled quickly, and I note staff clean up efficiently when diners leave.

Food at Tamago-En is Japanese, American, and British cuisine, with a focus on dishes that incorporate eggs. From appetizers to mains to desserts, expect their signature eggs sourced fresh from Okinawa, and disinfected using ultraviolet light, to feature. This ensures an above average quality for their eggs, while relatively consistent standards means dishes are usually yummy. Portions are sized for individuals. Prices are comparable to other cafes, budget about SGD $21 per person.


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Tamago-En Signage

Tamago-En Facade

Egg-Shaped Ceiling Features

A simple straightforward Iced Lemon Tea (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only), with tangy zesty sour sweet flavour. Nicely cold and refreshing.

Iced Lemon Tea (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only)

The Calpis (SGD $4.80) or Calpico is a Japanese uncarbonated milk-based soft drink beverage. Produced by lactic acid fermentation of water, non-fat dry milk, and lactic acid, this drink has a creamy smooth texture, with a lovely milky fruity sweet flavour.

Calpis (SGD $4.80)

Calpis

The Original Milk Shake (SGD $5.80) is rich, medium-thick, creamy and smooth in texture. Has bright floral eggy sweet milky flavours from the blend of milk, fresh egg yolk, and vanilla ice cream sourced from Häagen-Dazs. Served chilled, I love the richness of taste, despite the ice cubes getting in the way while drinking. Good!

Original Milk Shake (SGD $5.80)

Original Milk Shake

A blend of soda water, whisky, and yuzu peel, the Yuzu High Ball (SGD $8.50) is refreshing with sweet sour bitter flavour, and a fizzy texture. I wish it was slightly sweeter though, to balance out the bitterness, which was of medium strength.

Yuzu High Ball (SGD $8.50)

Yuzu High Ball

The Cream Of Mushroom Soup (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only) was thick and creamy rich, with robust salty earthy savoury milky flavour. Perhaps overly salty though.

Cream Of Mushroom Soup (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only)

The Mesclun Salad (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only) features a medley of fresh, crisp crunchy vegetables (lettuce, mizuna, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes), with bright vegetal earthy bitter sweet flavour. Dressed in a nutty sauce.

Mesclun Salad (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only)

The Okonomiyaki-Fu Tako No Omuretsu (SGD $9.80) is a take on the classic Japanese pancake, except the batter is replaced by eggs, so it's more like an omelette instead. Lovely fluffy soft texture. Stuffed with chunks of bouncy octopus and crunchy pickled daikon radish, garnished with crisp dried seaweed, wispy katsuobushi / bonito fish flakes, creamy mayonnaise, and thick okonomiyaki sauce. This appetizer has bright eggy sweet savoury salty flavours, very enticing and yummy. Highly recommended!

Okonomiyaki-Fu Tako No Omuretsu (SGD $9.80)

Okonomiyaki-Fu Tako No Omuretsu

Okonomiyaki-Fu Tako No Omuretsu

Okonomiyaki-Fu Tako No Omuretsu

The 5-Kind Japanese Omelette Skewer (SGD $8.80) is a showcase platter of ingredient pairings, all topped on thick slices of fluffy spongy soft tamago / Japanese egg omelette, which have bright natural eggy sweet savoury flavour. The Omelette Skewer Seaweed Paste is dressed in a rich thick creamy seaweed paste, and has deep earthy savoury salty flavour. The Omelette Skewer Cod Roe & Mayonnaise was decent, with the grainy cod roe and creamy mayonnaise combining with bright salty sweet milky flavour.

The Omelette Skewer Tomato was my favourite, with its bright vegetal sweet flavour from the topping of cherry tomato and tomato ketchup sauce. The Omelette Skewer Salmon Flakes & Roe was underwhelming, with the dry salmon fish flakes offsetting the juicy globules of briny salty sweet salmon fish roe. The Omelette Skewer Crab & Spring Onion was decent with its stringy shredded crab meat and crisp spring onions lending bright briny sweet salty vegetal flavour. Overall pretty tasty, best shared. Worth ordering!

5-Kind Japanese Omelette Skewer (SGD $8.80)

Omelette Skewer Seaweed Paste

Omelette Skewer Cod Roe & Mayonnaise

Omelette Skewer Tomato

Omelette Skewer Salmon Flakes & Roe

Omelette Skewer Crab & Spring Onion

5-Kind Japanese Omelette Skewer

The Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich (SGD $7.80) is a decent light meal. The thick fluffy soft white bread slices sandwich creamy mashed egg mayonnaise, whose small chunks lend a soft bite to texture, with bright eggy sweet flavour. It's topped with a single halved cherry tomato. Served with a side of mesclun salad and crisp salted potato chips. I like the simplicity of this. Worth ordering!

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich (SGD $7.80)

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich

The Tamago Kake Gohan (SGD $8.80) or Ultimate Egg Rice is Japanese comfort food at its simplest. Over a base of hot warm sticky white rice is cracked a fresh raw egg. The egg white is then whipped till frothy, while the yolk is mixed in with light soy sauce and furikake seasoning, giving this a bright grainy eggy sweet salty savoury flavour. Added negitoro / minced raw tuna fish for body, a light chew and bright savoury sweet meaty flavour. I only wish the rice were less clumpy and more absorbent of the egg. Worth ordering!

Tamago Kake Gohan (SGD $8.80)

Tamago Kake Gohan

Condiments

Condiments

The Oyako Don Set (SGD $12.80) is a filling meal. What sets their Oyako Don apart is the richness of the silky egg, with its bright eggy sweet flavour, coating the white rice base which unfortunately, doesn't absorb it all that well. The boneless chicken chunks are nicely tender, with mild sweet savoury flavour, and complement the silky egg gravy. It's served with crunchy Pickled Daikon Radish which cuts through the richness of the dish with its sharp sour sweet flavour, and a tasty Miso Soup with chunks of soft silken tofu beancurd and wispy seaweed having robust savoury earthy salty flavour. Good!

Oyako Don Set (SGD $12.80)

Pickled Daikon Radish

Miso Soup

Oyako Don

Oyako Don

Not too taken with the Chicken Stew Omu-Rice (SGD $13.80). In the center sits a mound of fluffy white rice, studded with tender button mushrooms, covered with a fluffy blanket of egg omelette. Surrounding it are fresh florets of crunchy broccoli, and dense chunks of boneless chicken (with thick skin), in a generous sea of rich umami brown gravy. The gravy lends the primary flavour here, bold and punchy with savoury salty notes, though I felt it could be less full-flavoured. The chicken is of poor quality though, and lets down the overall dish, though I love the high quality egg. Could be improved.

Chicken Stew Omu-Rice (SGD $13.80)

Chicken Stew Omu-Rice

Chicken Stew Omu-Rice

Chicken Stew Omu-Rice

Loved the Tofu Cheesecake (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only). The tofu cheesecake has a smooth creamy texture with mild cheesy earthy sweet flavour, while the soft graham cracker base has a grainy texture with bready sweet flavour. Set amongst dollops of fruity sweet sour raspberry puree and mango puree, with fluffy whipped cream, mint leaf garnish, and half a strawberry with fruity sweet flavour. Good!

Tofu Cheesecake (SGD $3.50 Part Of Set Meal Only)

Tofu Cheesecake

Tofu Cheesecake

The Pineapple Tapioca Pearl Souffle Pancake (SGD $12.80) is a large sharing dessert plate. Despite its huge look, the pillow-soft souffle pancakes are super light and easy on the palate, melting away like a little cloud, with grainy eggy sweet flavour. The primary tastes here are from the garnishes, from the juicy caramelised pineapple rings with deep fruity sweet flavour, to the bouncy tapioca boba pearls that hold mild earthy sweet flavour with a delicious chew. There's airy whipped cream (which I set aside), and some light maple syrup to drizzle over, though I found the combination of the existing ingredients good enough even without the dressing. Highly recommended!

Pineapple Tapioca Pearl Souffle Pancake (SGD $12.80)

Pineapple Tapioca Pearl Souffle Pancake

Pineapple Tapioca Pearl Souffle Pancake

The Strawberry Homemade Egg Pudding (SGD $6.80) is lovely. This delicate dessert features a base of chilled home made egg pudding, wobbly and soft with bright eggy sweet flavour. It's dressed with rich caramel sauce, which lends deep sweet notes to the base. Garnished with thick strawberry compote and juicy strawberries, both of which lend sharp fruity sour sweet flavour that contrasts with the pudding. Completed with a mint leaf garnish. I only wish they placed the caramel sauce on the top, instead of the base. Good!

Strawberry Homemade Egg Pudding (SGD $6.80)

Strawberry Homemade Egg Pudding

Strawberry Homemade Egg Pudding

Strawberry Homemade Egg Pudding

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Update Dec-2022: In the last 2 years, Tamago-En has not only survived the pandemic, but they've expanded across Singapore to 8 outlets now. Tamago-En remains a strong egg-focused casual dining eatery, outlasting similar concepts with their wide range of offerings and above average quality dishes.

The Frothy Egg Brew (SGD $5.90) is their rendition of the Vietnamese style egg coffee or ca phe trung. This has strong black coffee, topped with a foam of Okinawa egg yolks, condensed milk, caramel sauce, and vanilla. Served warm, you get the airy frothy foam first, with its rich eggy milky sweet floral flavour, then the toasty aroma and earthy notes of the black coffee beneath. Good!

Frothy Egg Brew (SGD $5.90)

The Eggcellent Platter (SGD $16.90) lives up to its punny name, it's excellent! Here, there's soft creamy scrambled eggs with eggy sweet flavour, generously piled on top of crusty crisp toasted sourdough bread with bready sour flavour, yum. In the middle sits of warm pot of mixed baked beans in tomato sauce, rich and soft with vegetal earthy sweet in flavour. On the side, crisp juicy fresh salad (lettuce, cherry tomatoes) with vegetal sweet flavour, and crisp golden potato tater tots with grainy salty savoury flavour. I especially like the sauteed mushrooms (shiitake, shimeiji), tender and bouncy with bright vegetal salty earthy sweet flavour. Completed with juicy snappy arabiki pork sausages with smoky meaty salty savoury flavour. A good scrambled eggs breakfast, among the better versions around. Highly recommended!

Eggcellent Platter (SGD $16.90)

Eggcellent Platter

Eggcellent Platter

The Oyako Don (SGD $13.90), or Chicken & Egg Rice Bowl, is much improved from before, and I feel it's now amongst the better renditions you can get in Singapore. The boneless chicken chunks are medium-sized with a generous portion, tender and moist in texture with pleasant meaty sweet savoury salty flavour. The fluffy egg is soft and warm and moist, bright with eggy sweet savoury flavour. Most importantly, the stock of katsuobushi / bonito skipjack tuna flakes, together with the egg, has infused the fluffy white rice, permeating throughout the bowl, lending a robust grainy earthy sweet savoury flavour. Contrasted by the side of crunchy pickled daikon radish, which bursts with vegetal sour sweet flavour. A warm bowl of miso soup accompanies, filled with wispy seaweed and soft silken tofu bean curd, carrying deep salty savoury earthy flavour. Highly recommended!

Oyako Don (SGD $13.90)

Oyako Don

Oyako Don

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